Sexual Assault in India

In India, rape, sexual harassment, and the abuse of women are common occurrences that go unspoken due to social stigma or fear of retribution. On December 16, 2012, a 23-year-old young woman was beaten and gang-raped so badly she spent several days in intensive care before being transferred to Singapore for further medical treatment. She died from her injuries on December 29, 2012. Anti-rape protests broke out across India as citizens demanded that rape cases be expedited and that parliament hold an emergency session to strengthen laws against sexual assault. Police have cracked down on demonstrations, even using tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters.